At roughly 0730 this morning, after completing a thorough sunrise deck wash, the on-duty watch loosed and set the main topmast staysail, main t’gallant staysail, the mizzen staysail and mizzen topmast staysail. We’re moving again! Steadily at 4 knots we roll along the South Pacific in the Picton Castle way, living up to our slogan “we may be slow but we get around”. 540 miles until we reach the famous Pitcairn Island, and the Captain assures us they are as excited to host us as we are to visit. Preparations for the talent show continue, Tony of the UK encourages all to join, performing any act, big or small.
As for ship’s work, our carpenter team is busy installing a brand new shelf in the main salon to store charging electronics. Modern times. Despite Picton Castle being a traditional tall ship we all must have our ‘devices’.
All onboard are able to charge their electronics between the hours of 0600 – 1000, while the generator is running in order to charge the ship’s batteries. The benefits of not having the generator constantly running is that we can enjoy the peacefulness of sailing; the waves splashing the hull, the sails drawing us along full with wind.
The monomoy’s floorboards are receiving a second coat of primer, the leeboard is being prepped for primer and paint and the rudder is painted and hanging to dry on the foc’sle head. Val of British Colombia, Canada continues work scraping one of nine oars and encouraged others to join her in the fun. By mid-morning she had recruited three other off watch shipmates – many hands make light work. Our rigging gang worked on bending the stuns’ls to the stuns’l yards in order to hoist them up the foremast.
Many salty sailors onboard have never had the chance to set stuns’ls, it will be rather exciting for both new and old crew members. Our engineer team continues their fine work on the stack house door and frame, the noise of their tools will be well worth it once completed. Our sun soaking sail makers are diligently stitching away. Tyler of Ontario, Canada is sewing a window patch onto an upper topsail, Kimba of Ontario, Canada added an eye splice to the royal and joined by Abbey, of North Carolina, USA who dug out her sewing palm to seam the new t’gallant. Sunshine, blue skies and a steady breeze, we couldn’t ask for better weather!
From: Galapagos
Towards: Pitcairn
Date: July 13, 2018
Noon Position: 20°42′ S x 121°32.2′ W
Course + Speed: SW + 4.1 knots
Wind direction + Force: ExS + Force 4
Swell Height + Direction: 2.5m + NExE
Weather: Bright, sunny
Day’s Run: 98.8nm
Passage Log: 2226nm
Distance to Port: 537nm
Voyage: 5666.2nm
Sails Set: All square sails, main topmast staysail, main t’gallant staysail, mizzen staysail, mizzen topmast staysail, inner jib, outer jib